Sometimes I have a really hard time with food/stomach issues on long "event" rides. The Midnight Century was particularly frustrating in this regard this year.
I just read this on a cycling mailing list:
On the subject of general “fueling”, I’d like to throw in my 2 cents. Boiled potatoes. My stomach won’t allow me to each much food while riding and not at all when running. But a lightly salted potato, eaten over the course of 50 plus miles (if a century, take two), works great for me. Potatoes provide some carbs and are very easy to digest. This has become my miracle food, along with Gu, Nuun, water, dried figs or dates.
Damn, I don't know why that speaks to me so clearly, but that sounds like a good idea.
7 comments:
Hi John- for some reason your email address is no longer in my system. Can you email me at contact.srtc@srtc.org so I have your email? I want to send you an invite to an upcoming event. Thanks.
Staci Lehman
Spokane Regional Transportation Council
I always have a messed up stomach on long rides and find it hard to eat. A few years ago I did STP and well into the ride, there was a "potato stop". It was run as a fundraiser by some group-needing-funds and from what other riders were saying, it was there every year, by then a tradition, and everyone generally dug it.
I stopped and got off my bike and looked at these giant tubs filled with ice, atop which sat hundreds of halved baked potatoes, wrapped in saran wrap. It was the weirdest scene and an even weirder ride food idea - a chilled baked potato(?!?) - but I forked over my cold cash and sprinkled my cold spud with some salt from one of the many shakers that were sitting around. I immediately felt better and I remember it as one of the best-tasting things I've ever eaten on a long ride.
I can't believe I've never connected the dots and experimented with potatoes as ride fuel since then. Thanks for jarring my memory. I'm gonna have to try taking some form along on my next long ride.
I find that 2-3 tablespoons of chia seeds in a Gatorade drink works great. I had two of those on the midnight century along with some Shot Blocks and Clif bars.
Potatoes on that 50k run were great. I could really feel them ramp up the blood sugar. But, when that sugar was depleted, I could feel it too.
Hank speaks with wisdom and authority. Chia seeds are amazing.
Only hippies eat chia seeds.
Chia seeds are another one of those Born To Run recommendations. Maybe John should also eat pinole and drink beer before and during his long rides.
Chia seeds are pretty good tho. I eat them in a glass of lemon water. And no, I am not a hippy.
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